Kaneland tops Hampshire
The Kaneland softball team took advantage of every situation it could Thursday, downing Hampshire 6-1 in the semifinals of the Class 3A Burlington Central softball regional.
The Knights (27-8) take on host Burlington (21-5) at noon Saturday for the regional title. BC has knocked Kaneland out of the postseason the past three years, all in regional finals.
"They're a lot like Glenbard South," said Kaneland coach Ken Neahring of the Rockets. "They've got speed, good pitching and defense. They like to let you beat yourselves."
Kaneland had all the intangibles going for it Thursday. The Knights got a 6-hitter from freshman Delaney Vest, a solid plate effort from Sara Rose, and a towering 2-run home run from senior Jordan Herra to open up the game in the bottom of the fifth.
"I've been hitting really good lately and the home run felt really good," Herra said.
Kaneland scored a single run in each of the first four innings.
Rose's double drove in Delaney Vest, who had walked, in the first. Chassidy Mangers beat out a perfect bunt to lead off the second and scored on Rose's two-out single. In the third, Rilee Vest reached on a one-out throwing error and came home on Herra's deep double to center field.
Then, in the fourth, Delaney Vest led off with a single and scored on Rose's second double and third RBI of the day.
Hampshire (12-17-1) came back to score in the top of the fifth and had a golden opportunity to get back in the game but left the bases loaded.
Brianna Doyle led off by reaching on an error and was sacrificed to second by Kirsten Follman. Mary Bruscato then beat out an infield hit and Grace Jakubowski singled to right to score Doyle. But after losing pitcher Ally Kent walked to lead the bases, Delaney Vest struck out Hampshire's 3-4 hitters to end the threat. For the day, she struck out nine and walked two.
"We had the bases loaded and our 3-4 hitters up," said Hampshire coach Ken Bram, whose team won a Class 2A regional title last year. "That was our inning to change the whole outlook of the game. But give their pitcher credit. I didn't think she was dominating but she got it done. We're proud of our girls. They've done the best they could."
Neahring was happy to see production up and down the Knights' order.
"People that have been really consistent for us weren't today, but others were so we didn't need it," he said. "Sara Rose and Jordan Herra really had nice days."